Patrick Dempsey can switch lanes with the best of them. He was the lead actor in many TV watchers’ dreams for his portrayal of Dr. Derek Shepherd in 250-plus episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. But the man who was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2023 also has reoccurring roles in your nightmares. After all, he did play a sheriff in the holiday slasher Thanksgiving last year and will star in the upcoming dark Showtime series Dexter: Original Sin.
Oh, and then there are the literal lanes that Dempsey swerves in. A passionate race car driver who owns Dempsey Racing, the Ferrari star gets behind the wheel of 394-horsepowered machines as often as possible, which explains why he’s the perfect person to endorse the exquisite TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 watch. Forbes Travel Guide recently took a quick lap around with Dempsey to talk about racing cars, taking road trips and missing home.
Where do you find ultimate happiness, on a film set or behind the wheel of a race car?
I find ultimate happiness when I am behind the wheel of a race car. I’m so happy and grateful to be back racing. I truly have missed racing so much and I am enjoying being back on the track.
I also do find happiness working on a film, especially when I enjoy the script and am challenged by playing a different type of character. When the camera is rolling, the hardest part is waiting. When I am in the car, the hardest part is the downtime for me.
How did you fall in love with cars?
My love of cars started when I was very young. My father loved racing, so it started with him.
What is it about TAG Heuer that made you want to partner with the brand?
TAG Heuer was a sponsor and that is how the relationship started. I am very proud to have a partnership with TAG Heuer. I was happy to be a part of that racing history.
How much thought do you put into your timepiece when packing for a getaway?
It really depends on where I am going, what new watch has been released and what activity [I’m doing on the trip]. I usually bring a vintage watch and the watch that is part of a new campaign. If I am racing, I usually bring lighter-weight watches. But it really depends on what the event is. I try to match my watch. I arrived for the Road America race and I brought the [TAG Heuer] Monza watch and the Dark Lord Monaco.
Tell me a few tracks that make up the Patrick Dempsey road trip playlist.
My playlist is really eclectic. I love jazz, techno, old rock ’n’ roll, classic rock and pop music. I like a little bit of everything. The one thing I do travel with is the KCRW app. I find that to be a great source of not only the news, but public radio stations here in the U.S. I travel around the world and always listen to the news and music.
You grew up in Maine. What do you miss most about the Northeast?
I get back to Maine quite a bit, but the one thing I do miss while living in L.A. is the change of the seasons. I just absolutely love when the seasons change.
Your Instagram feed is filled with trips to Italy, Monaco and other places. Where are you excited to visit next?
I very much enjoy being in Europe. Unfortunately, I am shooting in L.A. for the rest of the year and won’t be able to do a lot of travel to Europe. But I am very grateful to have a job in California. I’m just not able to travel as much as I would like right now.
What acting projects do you have coming up next?
I am currently filming Dexter: Original Sin, which [will premiere on streaming Dec. 13 on Paramount+ with Showtime, and debut Dec. 15 on Showtime].
